Rotary earth drill with fluid pressure feed



May 27, 1952 W. L. ACKER, JR

ROTARY EARTH DRILL WITH FLUID PRESSURE FEED Filed Jan. l5, 1951 2 SHEETS-SHEET l s WMV 'w/LLIAM L. Aant-RJR.

IN VEN TOR.

May 27, 1952 w. L. AcKER, JR 2,598,203

- ROTARY EARTH DRILL WITH FLUID PRESSURE FEED Filed Jan. 15, 1951 2 SHEETS- SHEET 2 WML/AM L, AMER, JR.

IN V EN TOR.

BY Z344@ zzorneys Patented May 27, 1952 UNITED STATES FFICE ROTARY EARTH DRILL WITH FLUID PRESSURE FEED 7 Claims,

This invention relates to improvements in rotary earth drill apparatus with fluid pressure feed.

An object of the invention is to provide in a rotary drill a feed system for advancing and retracting the drill spindle with the system extending uninterruptedly through the drill head and rotating mechanism so as to permit a much shorter overall length of apparatus for the same spindle travel.

A further object of my invention is to provide an entirelyl self contained reversible drill rotating mechanism with a drill spindle advancing and retracting pressure feed that extends through the bore of the reversible drill rotating mechanism.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a control for the rotation of the reversible drill rotating mechanism that is directly incorporated in the drill head and provided with a neutral kwhereby the drill spindle is not rotated while4 the prime mover drive continues in operation.

Another object of my invention is to provide a totally enclosed pressure advancing and retracting system for a drill spindle which obviates mechanical damage from without and prevents contamination of the parts from dirt and mud prevalent on a drilling project.

A still further object of my invention is to provide a pressure operated advancing'and retracting mechanism which has a movable drill spindle that acts as a pressure cylinder with closed off ends and hasl contained therein a stationary hollow piston supported by a stationary double walled piston rod having two pressure passageways therethrough for conducting fluid pressure to either side of the piston to advance or retract the drill spindle whereby the parts can be smaller in size than other earth drilling apparatus of like capacity.

Still further objects and the entire scope of applicability-of `the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description given hereinafter; it; should be` understood, however, that the detailed description andspecic examples are given. .by way of illustration only-and, while indieating, preferred embodiments of the invention, arenot-,given by wayy of limitation, since various changes-and modications within the spirit and scopeV` ofY the invention will become apparent to thoseskilledin the art from this detailed description.

Eor a morecompleteunderstandingof the. nature and scopeof my invention reference can be had to thev following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. l isv a side elevation with certain parts broken away showing the reversible rotary earth drill with advancing and retracting mechanism according to my invention;

Fig. 2 is a top plan. view along section line 2-2 of Fig. l; and

Fig. 3 is a View similar to Fig. 2 but showing polygonal cross sectional shaped interior or a driving quill having therein a driving cylinder or spindle of like outside configuration and slidingly mounted therein.

My earth drilling apparatus is mounted in a rotary table generally indicated at l0 having a bore therethrough and contained within a housing li swivelly supported on a bracket l2 about a drive shaft i3 which rotates the table l0 through a drive pinion i i mounted on the inner end thereof and within housing Il.

Supported by and extending from housing l I is a tubular housing I5 having its bore in alignment with the bore of the rotary table I0 and with a top or cap I5 secured at its outer end by cap screws Il. Top IE has two passageways I8 and E9 formed therein connected at their outsides with fluid pressure lines 2! and 2| respectively. A double walled hollow piston rod 22 has its inner wall 23 and its outer wall 24 threaded at their upper ends in supporting engagement with threaded recesses 23 and 2Q in top I6 whereby passageway i8 is in communication with the space 25 between the inner and outer walls 23 and 2 4 while the passageway I9 is in communicationwith the hollow bore 26 oi'thestationary piston rod 22.

Supported in a stationary condition at the lower end of piston rod 22 is a piston 27. Piston 27 includes an annular plate 28 having an annular recess 29 in the top surface thereof for receiving the lower end of the outer cylindrical wall 24 of the piston rod 22 and having a packing 3G in the recess 29 against which the lower fend of the outer wall 24 tightly abuts; a washerlike packing 3i positioned against the lower face of l plate 28 with an upturned portion 3l surrounding the outer surface of theV annular plate Z8 and encircling the projecting lower end 23" of the inner wall 23; an intermediate annular plate 32 abutting against the lower face of washer 3l and surrounding the projecting end 23" of the piston rod 22; a second or lower washer 33 similar to washer 3| abutting, the lower face of plate 32 and having a downturned flange 33'; and a lower annular plate 34 fitting over end 23 of rod 22 and over which flange 33' of washer 33 lies. A nut threadedly received on the lower threaded end 38 of piston rod 22 secures to the lower end of piston rod 22 the parts just described making up piston 21.

It will be noted that the bore 26 of the piston rod 22 communicates with the space below piston 21 while the annular space 25 between the walls 23 and 24 of piston rod 22 communicates with the space above piston 21 through a plurality of spaced apertures 31 formed in the lower end of outer wal124 of the piston rod 22.

Longitudinally slidable and rotatably mounted over stationary piston 21 is a drill rotating cylinder or spindle 33 having a drill chuck 39 attached to and closing off its lower end while an annular head 4D is attached to its upper or top end which is exteriorly threaded as indicated at 38'.

Annular head 40 has an annular longitudinally extending body portion 4I with an annular stuiing box 42 formed on the inside thereof to receive a chevron type packing 43 which provides a sliding seal t with the outer wall 24 of piston rod 22. Packing i3 is held in place by a packing gland 44 secured to the top of head 48 as by cap screws 45. The lower portion of head 4U is formed with an annular depending ange 45 which is threaded interiorly and engages with the threaded top 38 of drill rotating cylinder or spindle 38. The outer surface of drill spindle 38 has formed therein three equally spaced longitudinally extending keyways or slots 38" throughout substantially the entire length thereof for sliding keying thereto a surrounding hollow driving quill 41 hereinafter described.

Hollow driving quill 41 is rotatably mounted in the bore of rotary table generally indicated at I8 and slidingly receives therein the drill rotating cylinder or spindle 38 which is keyed thereto by the longitudinally extending keys 48, see also Fig. 2, engaged in keyways 38 in drill spindle 38 and corresponding keyways 41 in the interior of hollow driving quill 41. Thus, when huid pressure is applied to the bore 25 of piston rod 22, the fluid communicates with the space below the lower end of stationary piston 21 and drill receiving chuck 38 closing off the bottom end of drill rotating cylinder to advance or force drill rotating cylinder 38 downward` Likewise, when fluid pressure is applied to the passageway 25, between the walls 23 and 24 of piston rod 22, it passes out through the apertures 31 in the lower end of wall 24 to the space above stationary piston 21 and the closed olf upper end of drill rotating cylinder 38 to retract or force drill rotating cylinder 38 upward.

Hollow driving quill 41 is of general cylindrical shape with stepped exterior cylindrical surfaces. A stepped cylindrical surface 49 formed toward each end of quill 41 serves to receive thrust and antifriction bearings 53 which are seated in recessed ends 5I formed in each end of housing I3 whereby the ends of quill 38 are supported in the housing IIl. The extreme ends of driving quill 41 are further provided with cylindrical stepped surfaces 52 within which are seated annular oil seals 53 which seal off the ends of housing I0 with the ends of driving quill 41.

A pair of intermediate stepped cylindrical surfaces 54 with longitudinal slots 54' therein formed on driving quill 41 serve to mount antifriction thrust bearings 55 which rotatably support the rotary table I0 thereabout. Suitable threaded stepped surfaces 56 are also formed toward the ends of driving quill 41 adjacent the outer ends of stepped surfaces 54 to receive annular interiorly threaded rings 51 for securing the outermost of the thrust bearings 55.

Still referring to the exterior surface of driving quill 41 there is formed on the center portion thereof a cylindrical surface 58 which is splined at 59 to slidingly receive a surrounding annular clutch element Y5I) which rotates therewith.

Annular clutch element 68 slidably mounted on driving quill portion 58 is formed with serrations in its upper and bottom faces while an annular groove 62 is formed in the center portion thereof. Fitting into the annular center groove 62 is a bifurcated control element 63 for slidably shifting clutch element 60 up or down along driving quill 41 for engagement with the reversible rotary table I0 to be described hereinafter. Clutch control element B3 is formed with an outwardly projecting stern 63 which is rigidly attached at its outermostl end to a transversely extending rockable control shaft 65 supported in and projecting outwardly through a side wall of the housing I 0. The outer end oi shaft 55 has rigidly secured thereto an upwardly projecting hand control lever 61 which may be rocked in either direction as shown by the arrows to either slide clutch element 60 up or down along driving quill 41 for engagement with the continuously rotating gears of the rotary table I0 to be described.

Rotary table I8 as described above rotates within housing I8 and about driving quill 41 mounted and supported in its bore. Table I0 comprises an ahead gear 68 and a reversing gear 69 both identical in construction but reversely mounted and driven by common pinion I4 with which they mesh. Gear 68 will be described. Gear 68 has a central hub 18 having a central bore 1I therethrough formed with spaced an nular recesses 12 therein for receiving the antifriction thrust bearings 55, described heretofore, that support in its bore the driving quill 41. Hub 10 of gear 68 has an annular flange portion 13 projecting in the direction of its bore and it has formed therein jaws 14 which match with the serrations 6I on each face of clutch 6B adjacent which they are disposed for selective engagement. Thus, clutch B may be slid into engagement with either the jaws 14 of ahead rotating gear 68 or reverse rotating gear 63. Each gear is formed with an outwardly extending circular web 15 which has integrally formed on its peripherial portion an annular gear portion 13 which meshes with thepinion gear I4 carried by drive shaft I3, described above. Drive shaft I3 is supported in suitable antifriction bearings 18 mounted in a sleeve 19 secured in a bore in bracket I2 by cap screws BI. A suitable annular sealing cap 82 secured to the end of sleeve 88 by cap screws 83 seals oil' shaft I3. Bracket I2 is formed with a transversely extending strengthening web I2 and a circular platelike vertical portion I2. Bracket I2 may be mounted in a stationary, portable or vehicular frame where the drive shaft I3 will be connected to a motor or prime mover.

Housing II will now be described in more detail. It is of general cylindrical shape having a bottom portion 84 with strengthening Webs 84 extending outwardly and transversely thereto and with an upwardly extending annular wall portion 85 terminating in an annular flat surfaced flange portion 86 at its top. Wall 85 has formed thereon a support base 81 ln the form of a vertically extending circular plate 81 apertured atits :center at` 88 to receive sleevef laprojecting from f a similar r'vertically .extendingfcircular' yplate lportion I2 on bracket I2. Housing' may be swivelled about the axis of its mounting plate 81 Which-is common tothe axis of the drive shaft Vthe.antifriction bearings .59 and the oil seals 53,

described above. VThe top central surface 92 of `top member Si! is disposed in a plane transverse tothe bore of housing and serves as a seat for mounting the lower end of tubular housing I5 having a vflange I5' at the bottom thereof which is secured to flat surface end 92 by cap screws 93.

In Fig. 2 I have shown a cross sectional top plan View along section line 2-2 in Fig. 1. The central hub of the reversing gear 69 is only shown for that gear. The inner and outer walls `23 and 24 ofl the doubled walled hollow piston rod 22 are shown with inner wall 23 dening the central bore of the drilling apparatus. The stepped cylindrical portion 55 of driving quill Y41 is shown Surrounding the drill rotating cylinder or spindle 38 which is keyed thereto by keys 48 that permit a longitudinal' sliding t yet rotate the drill spindle when driving quill 41 is coupled to either aheadgear v68 or reverse gear E9'by clutch 'Bil as described heretofore.

In Fig. 3 there is shown a modified form of slidably coupling drill rotating cylinder or spindle here designated |38 Within driving quill here designated |41. The inner surface |41a of hollow driving quill |41 is of 'hexagonal shape, for

example, and the outer surface |3811 of drill rotating spindle |38 is of like hexagonal shape to be slidingly received within driving quill |41 yet rotated thereby. The inner and outer walls of the stationary piston rod are respectively designated |23 and |24.

The earth drilling apparatus according to my invention provides for a compact self-contained reversible drill rotating mechanism that carries within the bore of the drill spindle fluid pressure power means by which the drill spindle is forced into the earth or retracted therefrom. Control ofthe apparatus is at `the operators iingertips with the rotation selection lever B1 being positioned directly on the machine along'with suitable fluid pressure control valves. not shown, for the fluid pressure lines 2i! and -2| which supply pressure to advance or retract the rotary drill spindle 38. Since the power advancing and retracting mechanism is housed within the bore of the apparatus a much shorter overall length or height of drill apparatus is provided for the same longitudinal travel of the spindle. Contrasted with this earth drilling apparatus according to my invention is other fluid pressure feed systems .for drill apparatus employing iiuid pressure cylinders connected to the drill spindle through cumbersome exterior crossheads or a fluid pressure cylinder attached to the end of the drill rotating spindle both of which require a much greater overall height or length.

Another distinct advantage secured in my earth drilling apparatus is that all working parts of the rotating andi'rluidspressureisystemsgaretotally' enclosedv and ftheyarevnever'exposedfto the -openand yhence run'no chance of mechanical damage or contamination Vfrom the dirt and mud prevalent on a construction project.,

vAs the drill spindlein my apparatus ist-itself the uid pressure cylinder, all parts are correspondingly smaller in size than other earth boring machines of like capacity.

Control of my drilling `apparatus is directly at the point of operation onv the-machine. Thefdrill may be rotated in either direction -andflongitudinally advanced or retracted'by'selected controls directly at the operation point.

. A further distinct vadvantage-in the-'earthdrillingapparatus according to my 'inventionis-the flexibility of the apparatus Awhereby; the rotation 'of the drill may be interrupted'withoutstopping the prime mover which has coupled thereto the fluid pressure pump that may be continuously operated affording controlpressure atiall times whether the drill isrotated or in-a stopped o1' neutral condition;

I claim as my invention: l. In an earth drilling apparatus, areversible rotary table having a bore therethrough for a hollow driving quill, a housing forsaid table having a tubular housing extending therefrom provided with a--top `and in alignment with theV bore of the table, ahollow driving quill rotatably mounted in the bore of said table adapted to be connected to said reversible rotary table and `rotated in either direction thereby, a drill rotating cylinder slidingly keyed in the hollow driving `quill and rotatable therewith having a `drillclluck closing off its lower end and an'fannular head at its top end, a double walled hollow piston vrod within said drill driving cylinder and said annular head thereon suspended at its upperend from Vsaid top of the tubular housing andcarrying upon its lower end :av piston upon which said drill rotating cylinder is adapted to movasaid double walled hollow piston rod being provided with a central bore extending 'to the space below said piston and above said closed olf lower end :ofthe drill rotating cylinder Vand the space `provided between said double walls of the hollow piston rod communicating with' the space above said piston and below said annular head on the drill rotating cylinder whereby pressure may be .communicated to the space at either side of said piston to advance the drill rotating cylinder or to retract the same, and whereby-said reversible rotary table rotates in either direction said hollow driving quill and said drill 'rotating cylinder' sli'dingly keyed therein.

2. An earth drilling apparatus according to claim l wherein said reversible'rotary table comprises two vertically-spaced apart drive gears' rotatably mounted and reversely rotated-about-'said hollow driving quill with clutch engaging lements on the adjacently disposed faces thereof and including a clutch jaw intermediate said two spaced apart gears slidingly keyed to the outer surface of said driving quill adapted to be positioned intermediate Aand out of engagement with or to be slid into engagement with either of said jaw receiving elements on said drive gears whereby said drill rotating cylinder slidingly keyed in said driving quill is rotated in either direction of rotation or permitted to remain in a nonrotary condition.

3. An earth drilling apparatus as described in claim 2 including a drive shaft and a -drive pinion thereon meshing with and rotating said gears of the rotary table in opposite directions, a mounting bracket for said pinion drive shaft and Wherein said rotary table housing is adapted to be rotatably mounted on said bracket to swivel about the axis of said drive shaft whereby said drilling apparatus can be swiveled about the axis of said drive shaft.

4. In an earth drilling apparatus, a reversible rotary table having a bore therethrough for a hollow driving quill, a housing for said table having a tubular housing extending therefrom provided with a top and in alignment with the bore of the table, a hollow driving quill having an inner polygonal shaped surface rotatably mounted in the bore of said table adapted to be connected to said reversible rotary table and rotated in either direction thereby, a drill rotating cylinder having a similar shaped polygonal outer surface slidingly mounted in the hollow driving quill and rotatable therewith and having a drill chuck closing off its lower end and an annular head at its top end, a double walled hollow piston rod within said drill driving cylinder and said annular head thereon suspended at its upper end from said top of the tubular housing and carrying upon its lower end a piston upon which said drill rotating cylinder is adapted to move, said double walled hollow piston rod being provided with a central bore extending to the space below said piston and above said closed off lower end of the drill rotating cylinder and the space provided between said double walls of the hollow piston rod communicating with the space above said piston and below said annular head on the drill rotating cylinder, whereby pressure may be communicated to the space at either side of said piston to advance the drill rotating cylinder or to retract the same, and whereby said reversible rotary table rotates in either direction said hollow driving quill and said drill rotating cylinder slidingly mounted therein.

5. In an earth drilling apparatus, a reversible rotary table having a bore therethrough for a hollow driving quill and comprising two vertically spaced apart drive gears rotatable in opposite directions, a housing for said table provided with a bore therethrough in alignment with the bore of said reversible rotary table with recessed annular end portions and having a tubular housing in alignment with said bore extending outward from one of the recessed ends and provided with a tcp having a pair of passageways therethrough, a hollow driving quill rotatably mounted in the bore of said table and housed by antifriction bearings interposed in said housing recesses and by antifriction bearings interposed between the bore of said table and the quill and adapted to be connected to either of said two drive gears and rotated in either direction thereby, clutch means slidingly connected about said hollow driving quill between said two vertically spaced gears adapted to be connected to either of said drive gears to rotate said quill therewith, a drill rotating cylinder slidingly keyed in the hollow driving quill and rotatable therewith having a drill chuck closing off its lower end and an annular head at its tcp end provided with an annular stuing box, a double walled hollow piston rod within said drill driving cylinder and said annular head thereon where it is surrounded by said annular stuffing box suspended at its top end from said top of the tubular housing with each passageway of said pair of passageways in the top respectively in communication with said hollow piston rod bore and the space formed by said double walls of the piston rod, a piston attached to the lower end of said hollow piston rod upon which said drill rotating cylinder is adapted to move, said double walled hollow rod being provided with a central bore extending to the space below said piston and above said closed ofi lower end of the drill rotating cylinder and the space provided between said double walls of the hollow piston rod communicating with the space above said piston and below said annular head on the drill rotating cylinder whereby pressure may be communicated to the space at either side of said piston to advance the drill rotating cylinder or to retract the same when pressure is introduced through said pair of passageways in said top of the housing, and whereby said drill rotating cylinder keyed within said quill is rotated in either direction when said quill is connected by said clutch to either of said oppositely rotatable drive gears in the rotary table.

6. An earth drilling apparatus as described in claim 5 including a drive shaft and a drive pinion thereon meshing with and rotating said gears of the rotary table in opposite directions, a mounting bracket for said pinion drive shaft and wherein said rotary table housing is adapted to be rotatably mounted on said bracket to swivel about the axis of said drive shaft whereby said drilling apparatus can be swiveled about the axis of said drive shaft.

7. In an earth drilling apparatus as described in claim 6 wherein the inner surface of said hollow driving quill is of a polygonal shape and the outer surface of said drill rotating cylinder slidingly received in said hollow driving quill is of similar polygonal shape to the inner surface of said quill.

WILLIAM L. ACKER, Jr..

REFERENCES CTED The following references are of record in the iile of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date so 1,954,050 Moon Apr. 10, 1934 2,415.572 Jaques Feb. 11, 1947 

